Everything homeowners ask about building an ADU in Savannah — answered with 2026 data.
Yes, ADUs are allowed in By right as an accessory use (Sec. 8.7.4) in A-1, every RSF-, RTF-, RMF-1, RMF-2, every TR-, TN-, TC-, D- and PD district, on a lot whose principal dwelling is single-family, two- to four-family or a townhouse. Not permitted in RMF-3, RMHP, OI, B- or industrial districts. Local historic overlays allow ADUs but require a Certificate of Appropriateness. Manufactured homes may serve as ADUs only in A-1 and the Manufactured Home Overlay; RVs, trailers and shipping containers may not. in Savannah, GA. The maximum size for a detached ADU is Footprint capped at 40% of the principal dwelling's footprint, not to exceed 700 sq ft; in A-1, RSF-E, RSF-30 and RSF-20 the cap is 40% or 1,000 sq ft, whichever is less (Sec. 8.7.4.d). Footprint is measured at finished grade inside the exterior walls (Sec. 13.3), so second-storey floor area is not capped. No minimum floor area since May 2023: the unit must meet the building code (2018 IRC). Maximum one bedroom; variable through the Zoning Board of Appeals ($620). Attached ADUs can be up to Same 40%-of-footprint rule and 700 / 1,000 sq ft caps as a detached unit. An attached ADU must share a common wall with its own entrance on the side or rear facade, or be joined to the house by a covered walkway, and it meets the principal dwelling's setbacks rather than the accessory setbacks. Savannah has an ADU-friendliness score of 6/10. Check our full Savannah ADU rules page for complete zoning details.
ADU construction in Savannah typically costs $130,000-$260,000. The cost per square foot averages $175-$345. Garage conversions are more affordable at $70,000-$160,000, while prefab ADUs cost $100,000-$220,000. Permit fees add 2026 Revenue Ordinance, Art. P: valuation = floor area x $80/sq ft; permit = $8 per $1,000 of the first $5,000, $4 per $1,000 to $10,000, $2 per $1,000 above, plus $75 plan review (valuation under $75,000). A new 700 sq ft ADU is about $230; a conversion within the existing footprint is a flat $200. to your budget. See our detailed Savannah ADU cost guide.
Detached ADUs in Savannah can be up to Footprint capped at 40% of the principal dwelling's footprint, not to exceed 700 sq ft; in A-1, RSF-E, RSF-30 and RSF-20 the cap is 40% or 1,000 sq ft, whichever is less. Attached ADUs are limited to Same 40%-of-footprint rule and 700 / 1,000 sq ft caps as a detached unit. An attached ADU must share a common wall with its own entrance on the side or rear facade, or be joined to the house by a covered walkway, and it meets the principal dwelling's setbacks rather than the accessory setbacks. Junior ADUs (JADUs) have a cap of Georgia and Savannah have no 'junior ADU' category. A unit carved out of the existing house is simply an attached ADU under Sec. 8.7.4 with the same 700 sq ft / one-bedroom caps; if it stays within the existing footprint the building permit is a flat $200 (2026 Revenue Ordinance, Art. P, Sec. 1). Maximum height is 25 ft or the height of the principal building, whichever is less, in every permitted district, including conservation overlays and National Register districts without a local overlay (Sec. 8.7.4.h). Any part of the ADU taller than 15 ft must sit at least 15 ft from a rear property line that does not abut a lane. You are allowed up to One ADU per lot; a lot may not have both an ADU and a caretaker's dwelling unit on a qualifying lot.
Rear setback: Detached ADU: 5 ft; 3 ft where the lot abuts a lane; none where the district sets no rear setback for the principal building (Sec. 8.7.4.a.iii). Portions over 15 ft tall need 15 ft from a rear line without a lane. An attached ADU uses the principal dwelling's rear setback (RSF-6 and RSF-5: 20 ft). Side setback: Detached ADU: the same side-yard setback as the principal structure in its district (RSF-4/5/6: 5 ft; RSF-10: 7 ft; RSF-20/30: 10 ft; RSF-E: 20 ft; street side 10-15 ft), plus at least 10 ft of separation from the house. Converting an existing accessory building that is nonconforming only for these setbacks needs no variance if height and encroachment do not increase (Sec. 8.7.4.a.iv). Front setback: Sec. 8.7.4 sets no separate front setback for an ADU; the district's front yard for the principal building applies (RSF-6 and RSF-5: 20 ft; RSF-10: 25 ft; RSF-20 and RSF-30: 30 ft; RSF-E: 40 ft; 15 ft on lane-access lots in RSF-6/RSF-5, per Sec. 5.7.5). Confirm placement with Planning if the ADU would sit forward of the house. Note that garage conversions may be exempt from setback requirements if the existing structure is already within the setback area.
None required. Sec. 8.7.4.f only says that if parking is provided it must be on the same lot and, where there is no lane, served by the house's driveway. Many cities and states have been relaxing ADU parking requirements in recent years. In California, no additional parking is required for ADUs near transit.
Not required for the house or the ADU: Sec. 8.7.4 contains no owner-occupancy clause or deed restriction. Owner-occupancy matters only for short-term vacation rental certificates (see Rental). Note that owner-occupancy rules vary by state law — California and several other states have eliminated this requirement for standard ADUs.
The ADU permit review timeline in Savannah is typically Not published. Neither the Revenue Ordinance nor the city's ADU page gives a review-time target; ask Planning and Urban Design (planning@savannahga.gov, 912-651-3108) before submitting. A historic-district Certificate of Appropriateness adds at least one monthly board cycle. Plan check: Plan review fee $75 for valuations under $75,000 or $150 for $75,000-$100,000, paid at submittal (2026 Revenue Ordinance, Art. P, Sec. 1(B)); review time not published. Pre-approved plans availability: None. Savannah has no pre-approved ADU plan program and Georgia has no state program; the city's ADU page points only to the zoning standards.
Average ADU rental income in Savannah: 1-bedroom units rent for $1,300-$1,800/month, 2-bedroom units for $1,700-$2,400/month. Short-term rentals: Only where zoning allows the use: short-term vacation rental is a limited use in A-1, TN-, TC-, D- and B- districts and is not permitted in RSF-, RTF, TR- or RMF- districts (Sec. 5.4, 8.4.37). Expected ROI: 6-8% gross yield on a $130,000-$260,000 build at $1,300-$1,800/mo; both the house and the ADU may be long-term rentals with no owner-occupancy rule.
The minimum lot size for an ADU in Savannah is The lot must meet 100% of the district's minimum lot area for the principal dwelling type (Sec. 8.7.4.b, cut from 125% on Nov 25, 2025 and from 200% in May 2023): RSF-4 4,000 sq ft; RSF-5 5,000; RSF-6 6,000; RSF-10 10,000; RSF-20 20,000; RSF-30 30,000; RSF-E 43,560; RTF 6,000 (4,500 with lane access). The standard is variable through the Zoning Board of Appeals ($620). No lot-area test in TN-, TC-, D- or PD districts. The ADU counts toward the district's maximum building coverage. This applies to detached ADUs — garage conversions and JADUs may have different or no lot size requirements.
Garage conversions are one of the most popular and affordable ADU options. In Savannah, a garage conversion typically costs $70,000-$160,000. The key advantages are lower cost (no foundation work), potential setback exemptions, and faster permitting. Read our complete garage conversion guide.
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